Best Civictech Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 100: Shop With A Cop 16:57

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7h ago16:57

16:57

We've had many great occasions on this podcast to highlight different ways local governments maintain warmth and trust with the community. For our 100th episode, coinciding with Thanksgiving week, we chat with the Town of Davidson about its Shop With A Cop program underway right now, in which local police officers give children from economically di…

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#Alicia a novel by Eddy Arias 26:29

4d ago26:29

26:29

In this episode, we feature Eddy Arias — author, former media executive, entrepreneur, and adjunct professor. Together, we explore the world of his latest novel Alicia: Who is she, really? Without giving too much away, we trace the story’s emotional journey — from Claire and Alicia’s connection to the haunting, cliffhanging moment of her disappeara…

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#TechFashion 25:54

10d ago25:54

25:54

In this episode, we dive into an inspiring conversation about his fascinating journey — from starting out as a nuclear physicist to discovering architecture, then moving to Texas and later exploring London’s fashion scene. We talk about his bold decision to move to Miami, his experiences working as a fashion designer, and his thoughts on fast fashi…

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Episode 99: Clerks 22:53

1M ago22:53

22:53

This historic, fascinating and expansive world of municipal clerks is the focus our latest episode. Folks who believe clerks mostly just serve to prepare agenda packets and record council vote outcomes might be surprised by how far and wide the job goes. It's one of the most public-facing roles in town hall; generally, the clerk is the one employee…

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#CivicTech with Teri Arvesu Gonzalez 35:10

1M ago35:10

35:10

Our guest in this conversation is Teri Arvesu Gonzalez, Founder of The Tag Collab, a dynamic platform that brings together diverse ventures and ideas. In this episode, we explore MOXY—an app built to simplify democracy and strengthen civic engagement. By delivering news from multiple perspectives, MOXY helps bridge divides and combat polarization. …

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#AI Conversations Beyond Time 47:30

2M ago47:30

47:30

Welcome to Tech Conversations, where we explore the evolving intersections of creativity, technology, and the human experience. In this episode Dr. Jacek J. Kolasiński, is delving into one of the most urgent and intriguing topics of our time: artificial intelligence—not just as a tool, but as a presence reshaping how we remember, how we design, how…

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#Las Noticias con Galo Arellano 22:25

2M ago22:25

22:25

In this episode of Tech Conversations, Galo Arellano shares his journey from a young journalist to a prominent figure in traditional and digital media. He discusses the impact of significant news events on his career, the transition from traditional journalism to digital platforms, and the challenges of misinformation in the age of technology. Galo…

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Episode 98: From the 'Top of the Arc' 37:08

2M ago37:08

37:08

Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall is on the podcast discussing his new book, "Top of the Arc: Cocreating a More Innovative, Adaptive, and Effective Local Government." From the book's promotional materials: "Instilling a 'people first' philosophy, Stegall and the elected Cary Town Council are reshaping local government through collaboration, experiment…

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Episode 97: Renew NC, Rebuilding from Helene (One Year Since the Storm) 30:56

2M ago30:56

30:56

We're joined by Stephanie McGarrah of the NC Department of Commerce for a discussion of resources to rebuild homes that Hurricane Helene damaged or destroyed in the North Carolina mountains exactly one year ago. We cover the Renew NC initiative, its Single-Family Housing Program (https://renewnc.org/), and other relief, including free assistance th…

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#NASA Universo Curioso con Noelia Gonzalez 16:33

2M ago16:33

16:33

What is Universo Curioso? In this conversation, Noelia Gonzalez shares her journey from journalism to working with NASA, highlighting her role in the Universo Curioso podcast. She discusses the podcast's mission to educate and inspire the Hispanic community about science and technology, the innovative approaches they take in storytelling, and the i…

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#Rising Entrepreneurs with Brianna Page 18:25

2M ago18:25

18:25

In this episode of Tech Conversations, Our fellow Daniela sits down with RA+DI Alumni Brianna Page, a rising entrepreneur and director of the Bandhwari Women's Project. Brianna traces her path from Miami to FIU, where her studies in business sparked her entrepreneurial drive. She shares how she has turned ideas into action through leadership roles,…

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Episode 96: Building a Town Center 39:15

3M ago39:15

39:15

As with other episodes of Municipal Equation, this one originated from a casual, hallway conversation with a local government official. In this instance, podcast host Ben Brown was chatting at a League event with Mayor TJ Cawley of Morrisville, who'd noted the progress there in a major project to essentially build a downtown from scratch, as Morris…

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#STICK with Peter Dager 20:18

3M ago20:18

20:18

Actor Peter Dager joins us to share his journey into the world of acting, from the audition process for his role in STICK to the unexpected lessons he’s gained through golf. He opens up about the art of character development, why understanding a character’s backstory matters, and how he brought his character Santi to life. Peter also reflects on th…

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#ArtSpeak with Ray Elman 33:25

4M ago33:25

33:25

Meet Ray Elman, he founded Inspicio now Art Speak in 2015 . This talk dives into his creative journey, how ArtSpeak came to life, and the role of storytelling in preserving cultural legacy through art and conversation. Hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro

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Episode 95: Municipal EVs 42:41

4M ago42:41

42:41

Are electric vehicles, or EVs, right for your municipal fleet? They've surged in everyday popularity over the past 20 years and now are available from most of the mainstream automakers. Increasingly, governments and agencies are bringing on EVs, and peers are researching the merits. But EVs have evolved a lot, and it's easy to talk about them in ge…

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#Art by Ricky G 30:15

5M ago30:15

30:15

Meet local artist Ricky G . Ricky G is a dynamic artist blending pop art with street art, creating bold, expressive works that resonate with energy, culture, and personal storytelling. With a background as a tattoo artist and street artist, Ricky G has spent years translating raw emotions and real-life experiences into visual form. His art is a fus…

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#Soy Periodista con Jerónimo Mura 23:20

5M ago23:20

23:20

Alumni spotlight with Jerónimo Mura Emmy Award-winning journalist Jerónimo Mura takes us on a journey from reporting on the frontlines of war to covering local news and politics in Washington, D.C. In June 2025 he won an Emmy as part of the Univision Washington, DC team for the story on Joe Vogel: From Uruguay to Maryland's Youngest State Delegate.…

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Episode 94: Civic Trust, Together (With Matt Lehrman) 26:05

5M ago26:05

26:05

Public leaders often find themselves in situations of disagreement -- and that's not inherently bad. "Effective leadership isn't about avoiding disagreement," says Matt Lehrman, a civic facilitator and past CityVision keynote speaker. He adds: "Disagreement isn't just natural; it's necessary." On this half-hour episode, Lehrman of Social Prosperity…

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#Bringing the outside in- with Dahlia Dreszer 28:26

5M ago28:26

28:26

Bringing the outside in- AI in visual arts Hosted by Jacek Kolasinski Our conversation explores how technology, memoryand materiality intersect with technology. Bringing the Outside In explores how our homes become vessels for cultural memory and identity. The show transforms Green Space Miami into an immersive environment where installations and l…

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#Pininfarina with Paolo Trevisan 35:43

5M ago35:43

35:43

What is Pininfarina? In this episode, we feature Paolo Trevisan, VP of Design at powerhouse Pininfarina, as we take a journey to his beginnings and to explore the evolving relationship between design and artificial intelligence. From the brand’s iconic automotive heritage to its forward-thinking innovations in architecture and mobility. Hosted by J…

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#SMART City with Raimundo Rodulfo 34:55

6M ago34:55

34:55

We’re celebrating 100 years of the City of Coral Gables—and the future is looking brighter than ever. But what exactly are SMART city initiatives? Joining us for this conversation with Raimundo Rodulfo, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Coral Gables and .hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge technologies b…

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#After Mass Media 31:56

6M ago31:56

31:56

We welcome back Author and Professor Dr. Amanda Lotz. Why a Third Book—After Mass Media? In today’s streaming-driven world, audiences are engaging with content in entirely new ways, from binge-worthy originals to global titles that were once out of reach. While traditional broadcast and cable haven’t disappeared, they’re now part of a much bigger m…

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Episode 93: Marion's GEM, Sanford's RISE 47:35

6M ago47:35

47:35

One of Municipal Equation's favorite topics to cover is the kind of partnership and idea-sharing that can make success easier for everyone. When the City of Marion learned about a commerce-boosting concept that seemed to work for other cities, they tried it, and it worked for them. When the City of Sanford learned about it from Marion, they tried i…

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#Beneath the Surface with Mike Heithaus 20:47

6M ago20:47

20:47

Beneath the surface.... sharks and more... Host Maggie Salas-Amaro sits down with Dr. Michael Heithaus, Vice Provost of Environmental Resilience and the BBC Campus at Florida international University.The conversation explores Dr. Heithaus' groundbreaking research on sharks and the innovative projects underway at the BBC campus. Together, they delve…

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Episode 92: For the COOP (Continuity of Operations) 30:53

7M ago30:53

30:53

Emergencies happen, and sometimes at scales that surprise us. We can shrug, or we can invest that sensitivity. That goes for all of us, and our shared stakes in the kind of local governance that can keep vital functions going for communities amid disruptive wildcards like hurricanes or other natural disasters. More than a basic conversation for our…

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#GoombayKids 22:26

8M ago22:26

22:26

Stephanie K. Nihon is an award winning producer and casting director at LFD Productions. Nihon is known for being the creator, co-writer and producer of the award-winning TV Series called 'Goombay Kids' that has had 4 seasons to date. 'Goombay Kids' is an island adventure series (ages 5-9yrs) airing on the Happy Kids, Roku, AmazonFire, AppleTV , Yo…

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#TheCircularEconomy 32:47

7M ago32:47

32:47

The RA+DI presents OFF THE WALL, a limited series hosting talks on the circular economy, music creation, authors and more... In this talk Neil Ramsay, known as "The Creative Economist" and co-founding faculty at RA+DI talks with Bethanny Edwards on innovation, art, design, sustainability and more. Edited by our RA+DI fellow Daniela Zulueta.…

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Episode 91: Municipal Community 23:52

8M ago23:52

23:52

With any profession, hobby, cause or life experience, there's community. The NC League of Municipalities itself is an expression of that, and so are the many affiliate groups and friend organizations that seek to advance focus on nuanced issues as specifically understood by, for example, municipal clerks, or local government attorneys, or budget of…

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#CarolineHill with Evan Carraway 20:21

8M ago20:21

20:21

Meet Evan Carraway, entrepreneur, owner of Caroline Hill , MOM, daughter and friend. She has been running a successful business for years along with her mom Jill and is now stepping into the next phase with more interaction and growth with their customer base. What does it take to launch a wholesale handbag business and then add clothing and access…

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#InConversation with Christopher Mitchell 21:43

8M ago21:43

21:43

Christopher Mitchell was born in Queens, New York, and studied at both Florida International University and Pratt Institute. He has been visiting Haiti since childhood to see family, and while he began photographing Carnival during those visits, it wasn’t until moving to Haiti full-time in 2008 that he deeply immersed himself in documenting and int…

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#InConversation with Ana Siegel 34:52

8M ago34:52

34:52

Meet Ana Siegel, former General Counsel and business strategist with over 25 years of experience managing global legal and business functions for Fortune 50 media companies, including Fox and NBCUniversal. In this talk we take a look at her journey and the #legallens on some of the ongoing challenges with content rights across media.…

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#FutureisFemale Podcasters Daniela Zulueta & Ana Sofia Guardia 24:22

9M ago24:22

24:22

Meet our future podcasters, Daniela and Ana Sofia! As RA+DI fellows, they have launched their own podcasts and are now focused on growing and expanding their platforms. This talk takes us through their journey of expanding their horizons, venturing beyond their shows to launch new businesses and explore innovative opportunities in the media landsca…

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Episode 90: WNC Recovery Communication 25:56

9M ago25:56

25:56

In mid February, the League and its longtime friends at the N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) and western North Carolina region Councils of Governments held a second, large convening of governments -- local, state and federal -- in storm-hit Asheville to go over the latest in the post-Helene recovery work for western North Carolina, …

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#Soundologia with Pedja Kovačević 47:34

10M ago47:34

47:34

This episode of Tech Conversations at the Radcliffe Art and Design Incubator at FIU in Miami features Pedja Kovačević, musicologist, audio engineer, podcast host, producer, and founder of Soundologia. He’s also an alumnus of the FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator. As RA+DI celebrates its eighth cohort, the series highlights alumni and their creat…

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Panther Alumni week with Leon Gomez 15:03

10M ago15:03

15:03

Its Panther Alumni week! Join us as we catch up with Leon Gomez, FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator alum, who is launching an alternative social network designed to reshape online interactions. Discover what sets his platform apart, how it challenges traditional social media networking models, and how you can join this new digital movement.…

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In Conversation with Orlando Garcia 26:51

10M ago26:51

26:51

In this intimate talk hosted by Ceci Velasco, Executive Director, Ocean Drive Association our audience learns more about the life and work of composer, conductor and educator Orlando Jacinto Garcia. Most recently he has been the recipient of 5 Latin Grammy nominations in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition Category (2009-11, 2015, 2021). Wi…

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Episode 89: Car-Optional Cities 27:51

10M ago27:51

27:51

It's nice to have a car, for all the practical reasons. But cars can be a bummer, too. They cost a lot up front, need regular maintenance, require insurance, lose on resale value, might have varying degrees of reliability along the way and bring other kinds of risks and exposures. What if that kind of stress went away for everyday folks? What if yo…

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Episode 88: The Changing World of Cybersecurity 44:48

11M ago44:48

44:48

There's always something new with cybercrime – what it looks like, how it's carried out, what the trends are, who the targets are, and on and on. It's a full-on industry, and it evolves as such. There is, however, a constant: the fact that letting our guard down online can have enormous costs. Most of us exercise basic internet security smarts, but…

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The Apartment with Ana Menendez 24:25

12M ago24:25

24:25

This exclusive sit down features the author talking all things her novel ' The Apartment'. The inspiration, the characters and the apartment that carries its own baggage. Places also need time to rest, reset get ready for the next chapters.

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In conversation with Steve Gallon III 21:08

12M ago21:08

21:08

In conversation with special guest Steve Gallon III, District 1 board member being interviewed by RA+DI research Associate and former M-DCPS Superintendent Octavio Visiedo.Topics on education, AI, community participation, funding and the future of education in Florida and throughout the nation.

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Episode 87: The Hurricane Helene Recovery Begins 21:10

1y ago21:10

21:10

Aerial views of Hurricane Helene's devastation in western North Carolina are hard enough to process, but imagine being in charge of the actual recovery. On this episode, we're going to hear directly from the leaders of these hard-hit communities about what they've witnessed and what they need right now to position for a comeback -- one that everyon…

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In conversation with Leo Jaques 17:43

1y ago17:43

17:43

Welcome to FIU’s RA+DI Tech Conversations! This talk is hosted by Ratcliffe fellow, Daniela Zulueta hosted this podcast with guest Leonardo Jaques, from a duet music group called “FariLeo” in Mexico. FariLeo consists of two friends, Farid Aldama and Leonardo Jaques. Jaques shares his story on how Aldama and him began their journey in the music indu…

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La periodista que no oye pero escucha con Adriana Mocciola 36:20

1y ago36:20

36:20

La periodista que no oye pero escucha con Adriana Mocciola En esta conversacion tenemos a la periodista y autora Adriana Mocciola, nacida en Argentina que actualmente forma parte de Telemundo 51 y NBC 6 en Miami, Florida . En su carrera gano el prestigioso premio Edward Murrow , 18 premios Emmys del Suncoast chapter, 19 Florida Associated Press Bro…

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Episode 86: ARP Deadline Ahead 31:48

1y ago31:48

31:48

We called it once-a-generation legislation when Congress passed it in 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act provided $1.9 trillion across the nation to restrengthen from the global pandemic that hurt so many communities. For their part, the cities and towns of North Carolina got about $1.3 billion -- and there's an important deadline coming up with it…

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#The Age of Social Media 30:37

1y ago30:37

30:37

Meet Karen Comas, a tech executive who was there from the early days of Facebook, now Meta. Karen shares her unique journey, starting when social media platforms first emerged, and how she became the sole partnerships lead for Latin America at Facebook. She also co-hosts a podcast called Motherish, inspired by her experiences as a mother.…

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The New Frontier: Wildlife conservation and Advocacy 22:03

1y ago22:03

22:03

The podcast continues to highlight Hispanic Heritage Month with Maria Luisa Rossel, Press Secretary for Spanish language media at NWF. This episode was hosted by our podcast producer, co host and mentor, Maggie Salas-Amaro. In this conversation we touch upon how technology and nature must work together for a sustainable future. Did you know about t…

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Episode 85: Commit to Civility 36:38

1y ago36:38

36:38

While disagreement is a fact of life, and indeed it happens in the government space, there's a lot of potential in resolution. On this episode, we look at how local governing boards across North Carolina can tap into that together. Commit to Civility is a certification course from the N.C. League of Municipalities that explores the dynamics of disc…

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Virtual Currents: Art and Digital Spaces with Rodolfo Peraza 23:33

1y ago23:33

23:33

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month we feature a returning guest artist, Rodolfo Peraza. Rodolfo Peraza is an internet-focused artist, using XR interfaces as medium, exploring the social and power dynamics between digital and physical realms. Pereza is also the founder and director of MUD Foundation Inc. This talk was hosted by our producer, co…

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#LingoPlaza 21:51

1y ago21:51

21:51

What a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage month featuring Lily Hagen, CEO and Founder of Lingo Plaza and the creator of Plaza Aventuras a new bilingual format for kids and family to learn English and Spanish. This talk was hosted by producer, co host and mentor, Maggie Salas-Amaro. Raising multicultural kids, we quickly recognized the need for…

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#EKTheBoutique 30:48

1y ago30:48

30:48

Welcome to Elise and Katie the creative entrepreneurs behind EK the Boutique in Texas. Do you know what it takes to launch a boutique business? They started their business with graphic tees and evolved their business to EK The Boutique offering not only clothing but a sense of community.